Figure I would post it here instead of the suspension forum because they are more up on the newer generation trucks and you guys are the 6.5'ers.
My question is that I want to do a slight lift enough to clear possibly 285's without rubbing the fronts in all directions. I really would like not to buy and aftermarket hack and cut lift kit. I have heard all about the t-bar keys and that they can lift the front about 2 - 2.5" max But what color do I need. I can get all the keys at my local dealer (good guy price) but havent a clue which does what. Any info and help on how much lift,what fits etc.. would be great.

I was looking into this, myself. The jist of it is that yes, keys can give you a couple of inches of lift. But you're sacrificing wheel travel and ride quality.

I've considered the same thing but from what I hear, the extra angle on the CV joints is not worth it....smarter to lift it properly with a kit....

well you will want the green keys. or at least thats what we use. but remember, if your gona lift it 2" you should replace the shocks with longer ones and add a leaf spring in the back.

You don't need keys for 285s. I fit 305s just cranking the bars with the stock keys and a 2 1/2" block in the rear. The ride sucks though.

Bill

goodwrench- how long have you been running with the bars cranked? Any ill-effects on the CV joints? Do you have any pics of your ride?...

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c317/mr_goodwrench_06/Evo5MudBogs012.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c317/mr_goodwrench_06/Evo5MudBogs039.jpg

I've had it like this for 6 months. I haven't had any problems AT ALL. The wide tires make the truck want to follow ruts and road imperfections, but so long as you know how to drive you are fine. ;)

Bill

How much did you crank the bars? Did you need to get an alignment done?

PS- that's how my truck looked this spring during seeding....lol...it was a little wet....

yeah youll have to get your front end aligned for sure.

strictly - what does your 2" lift consist of?

2 in blocks and new keys. kind of a stiff ride but i put new shocks under it and it rides a lil better. my cv angles arent that bad either.

Adding key is the same as cranking your bars.

Bill

I'm a big fan of the t-bar front suspension ... kind of 'sold' the truck for me. But the one irritant/limitation is the amount of travel is marginal/limited.

looks pretty good goodwrench! I have been debating cranking the bars too. Alignment can be done, torsion bars are strong enough to take it, but the cv joint was worrying me. How much is too much? I would like to crank it to lift 1/2" to 3/4". I should be safe with that right?

Oh yea!

Mine is up about 2.5" at 3/4 of an inch your CV's won't know the difference.

Bill

thanks..that's what i was hoping to hear. I am just deciding what size of tire i can stuff in there and how i will do it. My goal is to fit a 285/65 R18 tire in there on a rim with +22mm offset

Where can I get the keys and how easy is it to do your self?

I just installed 285-75-16 BFG mud T/A's on my K2500 with no aftermarket lift. I did crank the bars, -but backed them off three turns from max, -and got 99% of the ride back without losing any tire clearance. I had 265 Toyo all terrains on there before, -and they were a great tire on the highway, -but weren't worth squat off the pavement.

I had a local spring outfit make me some u-bolts and installed 1" blocks in the rear, -now she sits level.

I also nibbed just a touch off the front flares (inside the wheelwell), -just for peace of mind.

As most of you guys are aware, the mud T/A's are taller than an equivelant size all terrain, -and there are no clearance issues with the new 285's (at least on my truck).

It looks great, and it rides great. Handling is no better or worse than before. I'm ready for winter, -bring on the snow! -Oh yeah, and it dropped the RPM down just a touch on the freeway as well, -and the speedo is still within 5mph according to my GPS.

I'd post a picture, but I'm at work. It might look suspicious (me taking pictures of my truck in the parking lot) :lol:

I'll get some pictures up in a day or two.

I'd post a picture, but I'm at work. It might look suspicious (me taking pictures of my truck in the parking lot) :lol:

I'll get some pictures up in a day or two.

At least you don't have gaurds coming out to kill you if you pull a camera out in the parking lot!:badidea:

Im sorry but what are these keys I hear about and how do you make them higher

Just put 285's on my 1500... no rubbing at all.

First off, I want to thank the moderators for leaving this thread on the 6.5 forum. It seems as though the tires and suspension area of the forum are mainly the D/A guys, -thanks again.

Here are the pictures I promised earlier of the truck with the new 285 mud T/A's. I've updated my signature about what I did for lift. Pictured next to the truck is my 4 year old son. He had no issues with the bigger tires, he really thought they were the shizzz!

He always talks about how he wants to hook dad's Chevy up to his mom's (the ex's) 4-runner and take the 4-runner for a "little ride" behind the Chev.

I swear, I really don't know where the kid comes up with this stuff??!! :lol:

24886

24885

im running my t-bars with one maxed and the other some play but equal hieght, and a 3" block in the rear, rides pretty good with new rancho rs5000's on the corners, the blocks are gonna make bledding the rear drums fun from what i can see, havnt tried yet. im running 285/75/16 toyo m-55 10ply no rubbing with the crank, i cut up the front ones before i cranked it, but i also wheel the truck hard somedays

First off, I want to thank the moderators for leaving this thread on the 6.5 forum. It seems as though the tires and suspension area of the forum are mainly the D/A guys, -thanks again.

Here are the pictures I promised earlier of the truck with the new 285 mud T/A's.

Agreed, this is info that I have been wanting to know but couldn't find much on the wheels/tires area. The stance of the truck in the lower picture is PERFECT! That is exactly the look that I am going to go for when it is time for new tires. Not too high for the kids to get in or to put stuff in the bed, but high enough to have a little attitude.:cool:

Agreed, this is info that I have been wanting to know but couldn't find much on the wheels/tires area. The stance of the truck in the lower picture is PERFECT! That is exactly the look that I am going to go for when it is time for new tires. Not too high for the kids to get in or to put stuff in the bed, but high enough to have a little attitude.:cool:

Thanks for the kind words, -I think it's just about right too.

Funny thing is, -it's still not as tall as a bone stock F-150 (probably the most popular work/fleet vehicle out there).

I don't get it, -market a truck to the workin'-man's world that has a bed floor that's almost five feet tall with the gate down.

Apparently, the guys at Ford have never loaded 90 pound bags of sacrete before.

This is definitely as tall as the Chev is going to get. If I want to build something to seriously play with off road, -it'll be a jeep with 60's front and rear with an sm-465/NP205, and a 383 roller motor.